Wisdom of Solomon · WEB-C
Wisdom of Solomon
6
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
Hear therefore, you kings, and understand. Learn, you judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you rulers who have dominion over many people, and make your boast in multitudes of nations, because your dominion was given to you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High. He will search out your works, and will inquire about your plans, because being officers of his kingdom, you didn’t judge rightly, nor did you keep the law, nor did you walk according to God’s counsel. He will come upon you awfully and swiftly, because a stern judgment comes on those who are in high places. For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested. For the Sovereign Lord of all will not be impressed with anyone, neither will he show deference to greatness; because it is he who made both small and great, and cares about them all; but the scrutiny that comes upon the powerful is strict. Therefore, my words are to you, O princes, that you may learn wisdom and not fall away. For those who have kept the things that are holy in holiness will be made holy. Those who have been taught them will find what to say in defense. Therefore set your desire on my words. Long for them, and you princes will be instructed. Wisdom is radiant and doesn’t fade away; and is easily seen by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. She anticipates those who desire her, making herself known. He who rises up early to seek her won’t have difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates. For to think upon her is perfection of understanding, and he who watches for her will quickly be free from care; because she herself goes around, seeking those who are worthy of her, and in their paths she appears to them graciously, and in every purpose she meets them. For her true beginning is desire for instruction; and desire for instruction is love. And love is observance of her laws. To give heed to her laws confirms immortality. Immortality brings closeness to God. So then desire for wisdom promotes to a kingdom. If therefore you delight in thrones and sceptres, you princes of peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign forever. But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare. I won’t hide mysteries from you; but I will explore from her first beginning, bring the knowledge of her into clear light, and I will not pass by the truth. Indeed, I won’t travel with consuming envy, because envy will have no fellowship with wisdom. But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world, and an understanding king is stability for his people. Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)17 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Wisdom of Solomon 6:1
Ver. 1. Wisdom, &c. This is not in Greek, and seems out of its place, being taken from Prov. xvi.
32. or Eccles. ix. 16. C. --- The connection with the preceding is observable in the next verse. H.
↑ 1Wisdom of Solomon 6:2
Ver. 2. Kings. The author puts these words in the mouth of Solomon to give them greater weight, (C.) or rather (H.) as the inspiration of God is the most unexceptionable authority, and it would be of no service to introduce a false personage speaking; these nine first chapters were written by Solomon, though the original has since disappeared. This has been the case with respect to the original text of Tobias and Judith, (Houbigant) as well as to that of the many canticles and parables which Solomon wrote. H.
↑ 2Wisdom of Solomon 6:4
Ver. 4. Power. All power is from God, and to be respected, even though the magistrate should sometimes abuse his authority. W. Rom. xiii. 1. --- They must render an account to the common master. 2 Par. xix. 6.
↑ 4Wisdom of Solomon 6:6
Ver. 6. Rule. How severely did God chastise Moses, David, and Ezechias.
↑ 6Wisdom of Solomon 6:7
Ver. 7. Little, and ignorant . Those in power ought to know, and to perform their duty.
↑ 7Wisdom of Solomon 6:8
Ver. 8. Equally. In proportion to their exigencies, or he punishes all as they deserve. It is not clear that he speaks of grace, as the Pelagians would assert, (C.) abusing this passage. See S.
Aug. ep. cvi. or clxxxvii.
↑ 8Wisdom of Solomon 6:9
Ver. 9. Mighty. This cannot be too often inculcated, (v. 6.) lest the great should forget God and themselves. C. --- Each must render an account of his charge, and be punished accordingly if he offend. S. Greg. hom. ix. Evang. W.
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Ver. 10. Kings. Sept. "tyrants." But this title was nor formerly odious.
↑ 10Wisdom of Solomon 6:11
Ver. 11. Just. Sept. "holy." The Jewish judges were generally priests. ---
Answer. The sovereign judge, to whom Job and David confidently appeal.
↑ 11Wisdom of Solomon 6:13
Ver. 13. Seek her. With the assistance of divine grace. Deut. xxx. 11. Rom. x. 6.
The advantages of wisdom invite us to seek her. C.
↑ 13Wisdom of Solomon 6:15
Ver. 15. Door. Ready to introduce herself. H. Prov. i. 20. and viii. 34. and ix. 1.) Ver. 16. Think. With eager desire to be guided by her maxims. C.
↑ 15Wisdom of Solomon 6:17
Ver. 17. Providence. To facilitate our just designs. Prov. ix. M. --- She is on the watch to save us. H.
↑ 17Wisdom of Solomon 6:18
Ver. 18. Discipline. We must begin with a sincere desire of instruction, and submit to correction, (C.) if we would come near to God, v. 20. H. --- Wisdom is attained by this gradation. W.
↑ 18Wisdom of Solomon 6:21
Ver. 21. Everlasting is not in Greek. Wisdom conducts to the throne, (v. 22. C.) which shall last for ever. H. --- The sense of the Vulg. is very just. C. v. 17.
↑ 21Wisdom of Solomon 6:24
Ver. 24. Now. The pagans attributed the invention of wisdom to Socrates, or to Pythagoras. But she proceeds from the bosom of God, and was practised long before their times.
↑ 24Wisdom of Solomon 6:25
Ver. 25. Envy. I will not imitate such. C. vii. 13. Wisdom ought to be diffused. C.
↑ 25Wisdom of Solomon 6:26
Ver. 26. World. The wicked is ransomed and healed by the wise. Philo.
↑ 26License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses